MOSES LAKE, Wash. – Moses Lake School District is laying off another 55 employees as it continues to prepare for the upcoming school year in the midst of a with an and .
According to a statement released by the school board on Tuesday, the layoffs will allow the district to cover a $3.6 million deficit in the budget which could not be covered In total, 268 employees will not return to work this school year.
Interim Superintendent Carol Lewis acknowledged the impact of the decision in a statement circulated to media outlets.
“Our classified employees are integral to the functioning of our schools, and this decision was not made lightly. We deeply regret the necessity of these reductions and are fully aware of the hardship they impose,” Lewis said.
A 2022 Education Finance and Policy study of teacher layoffs found that they are associated with lower academic achievement and less upward mobility for low-income students and students of color.
The school district stated that it was committed to continued academic excellence in spite of losing nearly 270 employees.
“The Moses Lake School District remains focused on its mission to provide high-quality education to all students while ensuring long-term fiscal stability,” the district said.
